Chapter 78: First Stage, Compression Successful

Almost as they manifested, three sharply angled Energy Arrows were already released, striking Ke Xia's bent knee, the back of his heart, and the wrist gripping the fist!

Ke Xia's one strike missed, sensing the danger approaching from behind, he forcibly twisted his body, swinging his arm to block the arrows aimed at his back heart and wrist, but the one targeting the knee could not be fully avoided, causing his movement to pause slightly.

In that brief moment of pause, a heavy oppressive pressure attacked from the side!

It was A Xing!

She, like the most steadfast bulwark, seized the chance created by Bai Hang, and thrust the Flame Gun forward again!

The Flame Gun pierced the gap under Ke Xia's ribs exposed by his evasion of the arrows!

A flash of feral light flashed in Ke Xia's eyes; instead of retreating, he advanced, his left leg whipping up like a steel whip, precisely kicking the barrel of the Flame Gun!

"Clang!"

A huge metallic clash rang!

The massive force caused the Flame Gun's trajectory to deviate.

Using the power of that kick, Ke Xia's body spun like a top, his right fist brimming with force, emitting a sharp, air‑rending scream, and hurled toward A Xing's face like a cannonball!

Facing this swift Counterattack, the golden eyes flickered.

She did not choose to meet it head‑on; instead she stepped half a pace back along the gun's force, while her core burst with power, her body twisting like a taut bowstring!

"Hoo—!"

The Flame Gun, knocked off course, was flung by her centrifugal spin at an even more terrifying speed and force, like a javelin thrown from the hand!

Its target aimed straight at the now open‑mouthed Ke Xia!

This sudden move was as fast as lightning, catching everyone off guard!

Ke Xia's old strength had just drained, new strength not yet born; seeing the burning Flame Gun streak toward him like a scarlet comet, he tried to dodge, but Bai Hang's arrows, as if possessing foresight, again formed a precise cage, sealing his left, right, and rear space.

Nowhere to escape!

"Roar—!"

Ke Xia let out an unwilling roar, crossing his arms to shield his chest, muscles tensed, bearing the blow that gathered A Xing's entire strength!

The Flame Gun slammed hard against his crossed‑arm defense!

Time seemed to freeze for an instant.

Then—

"Boom！！！！！！！"

The deafening explosion thundered across the entire trial arena!

Crimson flames rose skyward centered on Ke Xia, forming a brief, miniature sun!

A scorching wave slammed into the face; even seated in the audience, Xi Lian felt the heat that seemed to melt everything, and couldn't help raising a hand to shield his eyes.

Dust and firelight billowed, obscuring vision.

When the smoke slowly cleared, a charred shallow pit was left at the arena's center.

Ke Xia knelt on one knee at the pit's bottom, his blue‑white striped patient gown torn and blackened, exposed skin bearing burn marks.

He bowed his head, breathing heavily; the Health Bar above his head had already been completely cleared in the first segment, flickering with unstable light.

First Stage, compression successful.

In the audience, Xi Lian let out a slight sigh, but seeing Ke Xia's disheveled state, a trace of compassion flickered in his eyes.

The Black Curtain Lady's lips curved into a satisfied arc.

Perspective shift.

The temporary guest room assigned to the Black Tower in the Ba Mame household now resembled less a bedroom than a miniature, cutting‑edge laboratory explosion site.

Various barely eye‑catching instruments and devices from Jianliangyuan City lay scattered, cables coiling around the furniture like vines.

On the desk lay sheets covered with complex calculations, beside them a bitten, exquisitely packaged small cake—tea‑snacks prepared enthusiastically by Ba Mame.

The Black Tower himself, a giant of the Genius Club #83, wore a pajama set printed with cute patterns (courteously supplied by Ba Mame), barefoot on the soft carpet, brow furrowed as he stared at a floating, continuously rotating complex geometric structure made of pure magic.

She tried to decipher this 'magic' thing in her own way, finding it even more… illogical than she imagined.

"Energy transmission efficiency is low, structural stability depends on observer consciousness… tsk, troublesome."

She muttered, fingertips grazing, the geometric structure quivered slightly, emitting a soft glow.

Just as she was about to capture a critical Node—

No warning, no sound.

Black Tower Office.

Vision refocused.

Cold, smooth metal walls replaced the warm wooden décor.

Beyond the massive observation window lay a deep starry sky, not the bright afternoon sun of Jianliangyuan City.

Black Tower, still clad in that ill‑fitting pajama, stood rigidly in the center of the office.

The usually slightly proud expression on her face was now a rare blank.

Her violet eyes blinked, blinked again, filled with bewilderment.

She… is back?

Just… back?

Meanwhile, in that guest room in Jianliangyuan City.

"Black Tower Lady? The coffee you wanted, I've brought it for you."

Ba Mame lightly knocked on the door, her voice gentle.

There was no response inside.

She waited a few more seconds, a hint of doubt rising in her mind.

"My apologies."

She pushed open the door.

Inside the room, the equipment continued to run, the draft paper was fluttered by the wind blowing in through the window, and the bite‑sized cupcake she had taken a bite of still lay on the table.

Only that figure who was always immersed in her own world vanished without a trace, as if she had never existed.

Return to Space Station

Black Tower forcefully closed her eyes, then opened them again.

The view remained the same: her office, indeed.

She instinctively lowered her head to glance at her ridiculous pajamas, her brows knitting fiercely.

With barely a thought, the soft silk pajamas on her body instantly disintegrated as if erased by data, revealing a lavish gothic‑style dress and that exaggerated, imposing Witch Hat.

The familiar garments wrapped her body, bringing a slight sense of control.

Then her gaze fell on the corner of the office, where the petite Black Tower Doll stood silently.

The doll maintained a standard standby pose, its face identical to hers, though its eyes were slightly hollow.

Their eyes met.

The big eyes stared at the small eyes.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Then, under Black Tower's scrutinizing gaze, the Black Tower Doll appeared to have a program suddenly triggered, mechanically raising its hands and, in a completely flat tone, speaking each word deliberately:

"Black Tower Lady, unparalleled in the world."

"Black Tower Lady, supremely intelligent."

"Black Tower Lady, a beauty that makes fish sink and geese alight."

Black Tower: "……"

She felt the corner of her mouth twitch uncontrollably.

She adjusted the Mo Nu Mao atop her head, stepped forward, her high heels striking the polished floor with a crisp "tap‑tap" sound that rang especially clear in the overly quiet office.

She walked to the doll's front, looking down at it with a superior gaze.

"How many days have I been gone?"

Black Tower asked directly, her tone returning to its usual coolness.

She needed to confirm the Time Flow Rate difference between the two worlds.

The system's hollow eyes "watched" Black Tower, its facial expression unchanged, calmly replying: "Seven days, zero four hours, thirteen minutes, fifty‑two seconds."

A precise number.